Transplanting machine



Nov 1, 1949. .c. L. CARELOCK TRANSPLANTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./.

Claude L. Care/ack- IN VEN TOR.

Nov 1., 1949. c. CARELOCK TRANSPLANTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1948 R Q k C/aude L. Gare/oak IN V EN TOR.

Nov 1, 1949, c. L. CARELOCK 2,486,462

TRANSPLANTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1943 I 5 sheet -sheet s Claude L. Cafe/oak INVENTOR.

C. L. CARELOCK TRANSPLANTING MACHINE 7 Nov 1, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan 22,- 1948 Claude L .Care/oc/r INVEN TOR.

y J III;

Nov 1, 1949.

c. L. CARELOCK 2,486,462

TRANSPLANTING MACHiNE Filed Jan. 22,. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig/H.

Claude L. Care/oak JNVENTOR.

BY aod 0x05 M g Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAN SPLANTING MACHINE Claude L. Carelock, Douglas, Ga., assignor of onehalf to Claude L. Carelock, Jr.

Application January 22, 1948, Serial No. 3,707

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to transplanting machines of the type disclosed in my pending application for U; S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 721,244, filed January 10, 1947, and the primary Object of the present invention is to generally simplify and improve the construction of the machine dis closed in that application.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a planting wheel including improved plant-receiving buckets.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved sub-frame and mounting for the ground levelin plow, the planting wheel, and the earth packing elements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved pedal operated means for swinging the sub-frame upwardly so as to raise the ground leveling plow, the planting wheel, and the earth packing elements to an inoperative position, and to hold them in such position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel means for rendering the driving means for the planting wheel inoperative when the subframe is swung upwardly, and for rendering the same operative when the sub-frame is allowed to lower.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically delivering Water to the plant in each bucket of the planting wheel just before the plant is set in the ground.

The exact nature of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a transplanting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2 with parts omitted;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, partly broken away taken on line 4-4! of Figure Figure 5 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 4, with the sub-frame in upwardly swung position;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line G6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing details of the means for raising the sub-frame and holding it in raised position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing the valve controlled dis charge spout for the outlet pipe of the water tank;

Figure 9 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 10 is an elevational view looking toward the left of Figure 8;

Figure 11; is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the plant receiving buckets;

Figure 12 is a rear elevation thereof;

Figure 13 is a vertical section taken on a line l3---! 3 of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken through one of the plant receiving buckets and adjacent portions of the planting wheel.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Ill indicates an open elongated main frame which is mounted near its front end upon a rotatable, transverse axle H driven by supporting wheels l2 provided on the ends thereof. The rear end of the frame In is mounted upon caster wheels I 3. Frame It) includes spaced side rails l4 connected by a transverse rear rail l5 and by a transverse front tie rod or bolt IS. A draft tongue H is secured between the adjacent forward ends of forwardly converging straps I8 which are pivoted at their rear ends upon the rod or bolt 15 at the inner sides of the side rails M. The side rails 14 carry bearings 2!] in which axle H is journalled, and the usual ratchet driving connection. not shown, may be provided between each wheel l2 and the axle ll, so that said wheels will only drive the axle upon forward travel of the machine. The mount of each caster Wheel 113 comprises a fork 24 in which the wheel is journalled, vertical post 25 rigid with the top of the fork 24 and rotatably and slidably extending through bearing 26 fixed to the outer end of bar 21, rigidly secured to the rear end of and projecting beyond the side of main frame Ill, and a helical compression spring 28 disposed on the post 25 between the associated bearing 26 and fork 24. Thus, the springs 28 will cushion shocks incident to passage of the caster wheels over obstructions or inequalities in the ground surface.

Clamped at 3|, in cradles 32, secured on the side rails i4, is a transversely disposed water tank 33 provided with a downwardly and rearwardly extending outlet pipe 34 having a rearwardly tending discharge spout 35 at its lower end lo cated in front of and in longitudinal alignment with the plant buckets of a planting Wheel herein-- after described. This spout 35 is carried by the outlet of a valve 38 attached to the lower end of pipe 34. Valve 36 is of the type having a reciprocating valve member provided with an upwardly extending stem 3'! that is urged downwardly by a spring 38 to normally seat said valve member. Valve 35 is secured within a bracket 39 having an arm 40 overlying the stem 3.1, and the spring 38 a is disposed between the arm and the end of a plate il secured on the upper end of valve stem 37. Bolts 32 and l3'extend through the brackets 39 to firmly secure the valve 33 therein, and the bolt 42 projects beyond one side of bracket 39 and has a sleeve 44 journalled on the projectin end thereof. An angular operating lever is secured on the outer end of sleeve 44 and extends downwardly and rearwardlyftherefrom sleeve M also has a forwardly extending arm 56 to'whichthe lower end of a vertical push rod 4? is pivoted at 38. The upper end of push rod 41 is seated in a socket member 49 provided on the planefiiljn-termediate its ends. The other or outer end of plate 4! is connected to a plate whiehds'ii Xedtotlfe bottom of bracket 39, by means of a helical tension spring 5i which aids the-spring d8 insea-t-ing the valve member and normally positioning the parts 4|, 45 and 47, as shown. It will be-apparout that by depression of lever 45, the sleeve M may be "rocked to move the rod 4? upwardly against the action of springs 38 and 5! soas to thereby pull the-"stem- 3i upwardly for unseating the movable valve member thereof. Water is then allowed to flow from't'ank'33 through pipe "3d and 1 spout -'35. When '"the lever 45 is released, the springs 38 and El promptly close the valve and shut'ofl the'fiowof'water from the tank. As indicated byd'otted'lines in Figure '8 and shown in Figure '10, the outlet end of spout -35 has its 1 lower portion'clos'ed-b'y asegmental plate 52 so as to restrict-the volume "o-f water discharged-and thereby insure projectionof the I stream- 0f water the desired-distance rearwardly from the spout.

-Two seats 53 are car-ried -by-standards 53 mounted on the-rearends'ofthe side rails l4, said seats "b eing in "s'ide-by-side relation and adap ted to accommodate operators whose dutyit is to insert a plant in each bucket as "it moves upwardly and forwardly in-front of saidoperat'ors'at the n;

rear of the 'plant' setting wheel. Supported by standards 54 fixed -to-and rising from the side -r'ail's 1'4 are trays arespectively disposed-infront of adifierent one of the-seats 53 and adapted to -receivesupplies of plants to be set. Thus, the supplies of plantsare Within convenient reach of thebpeiato'rs occupying the =seats'53.

Disposed within-the area bounded by the-main frame I'll is a sub-frame composed of spacedside 'ra-ils 5t rigidly 'connected'at their rear ends by a'transverse rail 51. Thissub-frame ispivotally mounted near-"its front endon the axle H for vertical swihging'movement, by means of bearings 58s'ecur-edto th e under sides of the-rails '56.

The *forWard "ends of rails terminate -a short di'st ancerearwardly of 'ioddfi ofthe main frame and have"arms"59=fiiie"d thereto which are :provided with lateral=forward end portions-59 loosely engagedbetween the arms of forks -60 which are rigid with and project rearwardly from a transverse "bar 6'! disposed about and-journalled 'on the rod-l6 and extending 'the entire distance between "the pivoted-rear endso'f straps 18. "A grouiid leveling plow "6'2 is *carried by the bar "6 5 intermediate its ends, saidplow'being mounted on the lower end'of'a standard 63 whose upper end isadjustabl y attached as at to said bar 5!. The "arrangement is such that-when the rear end of the sub-frame'=is"swung upwardly,the bar 6| is rocked about the-rod"! 6 in-a clockwise direction as viewed'in-Figure 5' soasto raise the plow -52 off or the ground -to an inoperative pcsition, and when the rear end of saidsub-frame -is swung "downwardly to-a :point where the-sub -frame is horizontally disposed as shown in Figure' 4, the

verse rock shafts G5 jouirial led in bearing brackets '66 secured to'the under sides of the side frame rails 95 of the main frame it], each rock shaft 65 having a foot lever 61 secured on the outer end thereof. Each foot lever 6'! projects rearwardly at the outer side of the main frame ill to a point withinfc'oi'ivehi'eirt reach of the operator or attehda'ntb'ecupying the seat 53 at the same side of the machine. -Secured on the inner end of each shaft 65 is a 'bell crank lever including a forwarm extending forked arm 63 having a roller 69 journalled in the free end thereof and bearing on the under side-ofthe adjacent side names-s11 56 of the sub-frame. The other'arm bbof each bell "oranklever 'extends downwardly' and is' cbnneote'clby a rod "70 to a depend ing'armll secured on the adjacent end of a transverse-Took shaft 1 2 which is 'journalled on theun'der-side 'of the subframe near the rear end of the 'latterahdeie t'ends from-side to side 'thereof. It willthus be seen that when either foot leve'nfil is depressed, the other will be simultaneouslydepressed for simultaneously raising arms -58 *of both l)'ellbrank levers so as to swing the rear end of the subframe upwardly from the lowered f'position of Figure 4 to the raised :position' of Figure '5. Means is provided to -rele'asa bly hold thesub' frainie in raised position, which --means is -=oioerable by the pivoted pedals lit-of thefootleversiil. As shown, each-foot leverei is provided-nearits-pivoted end with a rock shaft l4 having anarm Hand 'dog 16 secured thereongsaid arm P5 being connected with'the pedal -l3 'of 'theasso'ci'ated'foot'lever by a rod lland 'anarm l8rigid with-thepedal. Ca'r'- ried by-each bearingbracket-EB is a keeper'plate l9 engagea-bleby the-doglfi of-theassociated'foot lever 'to "hold the "same depressed and to thereby hold the rear end of the sub-frame in raisedwpm si-tion. --Engagement =0f'either dog with its associated keeper plate -l9 is effected by forward tilting of the associated pedal "13, and either dog maybe disengaged-to allow the'rear end of the sub-frame to lower by" rearward tilting-of the associated -pedal- 'l-i. The'raisin'g bf the rear end of the sub-frame is assisted by a helical tension spring which connects one ofthe arms l i with therock shaft -65 at the same sideof themachine, and this spring also acts =to-absorb shock incident to sudden lowering of the sub-frame when the same is released to lower-by gravity. 'As will be later apparent. the-sub-frame carries a :pla-nting wheel and It means for packing earth' around the dlants asthey are setin the ground by 'saidz-pla'nt ing'wheel. Aecordingly,the :purpose'of raising the sub-frame is to elevate the planting wheel and the earth packing elements to inoperative position at the same time that the 1 ground leveling plow 62 is raised-to inoperative position. =Conversely, lowering of the sub-fram'e resu'lt's in lowering of the planting wheel and the earth packing elements tooperative position-at "the same time that the levelih'gplow fil-is 'loweredt'o operative position. The side-frame rails '56 bf-thesubframe are-connected by spaced transverse barsfil on which the --bracket39 for the valve '36 is'secured.

The plant setti ng mechanism includes a plantsetting wheel composed of spaced wheel members 82 connected by a hub 83 which is journalled on a transverse shaft 84 secured at its ends in brackets 85 fixed upon the side rails 56 of the sub-frame. The hub 83 has a projecting end which is operatively connected by a chain gearing 86 to a clutch member 81 journalled on the axle |I. Another clutch member 88 is slidably keyed on axle II and may be engaged with the clutch member 81 so as to transmit motion from said axle to the planting wheel. Conversely, driving of the planting wheel may be discontinued by disengaging clutch member 88 from clutch member 81. Means is provided for automatically engaging clutch member 88 with clutch member 6 at its free ends as at I81 for vertical swinging movement and is disposed to embrace the bucket and its closure I84. Secured to the back of the upper portion of the bucket is a vertical guide the planting wheel. For this purpose, the ball 81 when the sub-frame is lowered and for automatically disengaging said clutch member 88 from said clutch member 81 when the sub-frame is raised. The latter means includes a clutch shifting fork 89 provided on one end of a rod 98 mounted in a horizontal position for sliding movement transversely of the machine, said fork 89 being engaged in a groove of the clutch member 88. A spring 9| is provided to normally move the fork 89 in a direction to disengage the clutch member 88, and the other end of rod 98 is loosely pivoted to one end of a bell crank lever 92 pivoted on the underside of one of the bars 8|. The other arm of bell crank lever 92 is connected to the arm 88 of one of the sub-frame raising levers, by means of a link 93. The arrangement is such that when the mentioned lever arm 58 swings forwardly and downwardly to allow the sub-frame to lower, motion is transmitted to the fork 89 for engaging the latter, the link 93 swinging lever 92 and moving rod 98 against the action of spring 9|. When the sub-frame is raised, link 93 is pulled rearwardly so as to disengage the clutch member 88 with the assistance of spring 9|. Mounted on and located between the wheel members 82 adjacent the peripheries of the latter, are a plurality of equally spaced plant buckets 94. The wheel members 82 are provided with peripheral equally spaced transversely aligned pairs of bearings 95, and a crank shaft 98 is journalled in each pair of the bearings 95. A bucket 94 is secured on each rock shaft 96 between the wheel members 82. As shown, each plant bucket is provided across its front side with a fixed sleeye 91 which is fitted on the associated rock shaft 96 and secured thereto by suitable means as at 98. The shaft 84 has a forwardly offset end portion 99 on which is journalled a wheel I88 provided with peripheral bearings I8| in which are journalled the crank pins I82 of crank shafts 96. Thus, as the plant-setting wheel is rotated, the plant buckets are always maintained by the cranks of crank shafts 96 and wheel I88 in an upright position.

Each plant bucket 94 is of the dibble type and comprises an elongated tube cut away at the back of its lower portion to provide a rear opening in the latter and to form a pointed lower end which may readily pierce the ground to insure firm setting of the plant in the ground when earth is packed over the plant roots and as the bucket leaves the plant in moving rearwardly and upwardly. The numeral I83 indicates where the bucket is cut away to point its lower portion and to provide the rear opening. Each bucket is provided with a pivoted and bodily swinging closure plate I 84 which is preferably of arcuate form in horizontal section. As shown, the closure plate I84 is pivoted at I85 upon the intermediate shaft portion of a U-shaped bail I86 which is hinged I86 is provided at one side with a roller II8 intermediate the adjacent end portion of the bail I86, said roller being arranged to ride on a cam track I carried by the sub-frame and extending below the planting wheel near one side of the latter. The roller I I8 does not ride onto the track III until the associated bucket approaches its lower plant-setting position, and, after the bucket has completely left the set plant, said roller leaves the cam track I II and allows the closure plate I84 to lower and close by gravity.

Each plant bucket 94 is provided at the front with an inlet spout 2 into which water from the discharge spout is directed as the bucket moves downwardly and rearwardly at the bottom of the planting wheel. The lever is arranged in the path of the bucket pivots 98, 91, so that as each bucket approaches its lower plant-setting position, the lever 45 is actuated to open valve 38 momentarily, so that a stream of water will be discharged from the spout 35. Fixed on the front of each bucket 94 above its spout H2 is a trough H3 into which the stream of water is discharged and by means of which the water is conducted into the spout 2. In this way, the spout 35 may be disposed directly in front of the planting wheel so as to discharge the water rearwardly, instead of being located alongside the planting wheel so as to discharge the wate laterally.

Carried by vertical posts 4 fixed to and depending from the rear end of the sub-frame, are forwardly diverging covering elements 5 which are disposed at the rear of the planting wheel and in position'to crowd earth toward the sides of each set plant and to pack the earth around the roots thereof as the machine travels ahead, thereby firmly maintaining the set plant in upright position.

In operation, the operators occupying the seats I 53 are provided with supplies of plants which are placed on the trays 55. With the sub-frame in the lowered position of Figures 2 and 4, the clutch element 88 is engaged with clutch element 81 so that the planting whee1 is driven in the direction of the arrow a of Figure 2 when the machine is moved ahead. The operators then take turns in placing plants in the buckets 94, one plant being placed in each bucket as it moves upwardly at the rear of the planting wheel. When each bucket approaches the ground while moving downwardly and forwardly near the bottom of the planting wheel, the bucket pivot operates lever 4'5 so that a supply of water is delivered to each bucket im mediately prior to setting of the plant in that bucket into the ground. When the bucket substantially reaches its lowermost position, its closure I84 is opened, and the pointed end of the bucket is in the ground so as to set the roots of the plant in the ground below the surface of the latter, the water in the bucket flowing onto and.

assesses aroundtlie i oots 'of the plant. theplanter rnove'sahead, the buckets mo've r'ea'rw'ar'dly "and upwardly until they -=l'eave' the "set plant entirely with'odt-"disturbing the isame;zand then the closure 104 'oi the -"bucket' is allow'ed to close by gravity. continued iforward travel 'of the niazchin'e, the seflplant is firmly he'ld'in'se't position by reason of the fa'ctthat the towering elements 1 l 5 promptly c'rowd earth toward the sides *of and packthe same around "the'ro'ots of the set plant.

"Fr-om the for'eg'oing, itris believed that the constructi'on, operation ':and advantages-of the-presem iinven'tion *will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifica dons-and changes indetaiis of construetion are contemplated, Sllch 'asfairly f'allwithin'tlie spirit andscope o'f'theinvention as claimed.

What I claim as new *is:

1. I-n a transplanting machine, a transverse nem axle, a main *franie supported on said axle and' co A rising side rails -c'onnected by a "trans verserearrail-anda transverse 'frcnttie rod,'-supparting and driving wheels entire ends of said new nxleycas't'e'rwheels supporting the rear of said main frame,a transverse-bar disposed about 5 and joumalled Torrcickln'g movement on said tie rodyaground "leveling? plow supported by said "bar, 'a"siib frarnedisposed'within said-main frame and j'ournallled near' itsforw'ard' end on said front axle "for fv'erti'cal swinging movement, a'iplanting whe e 1 'joui'n'alled on at ransverse axis within said sub- Trramerearwardl of said axle, 'a'cli'itch-controlled driving connection between said axle and said planting wheel, means operatively connecting the forwa'rd end of said 'sub-"fr'a1ne with said bar whereby upward'swinging of the sub-frame to raise the planting wheel to inoperative position will simultaneously turn said bar fo r raising the Iplow to'an inopera'tive .p'ositiom'an operators station on said main frame "behind the planting wheel, and loot-operated means operable .from the operatorsflstation for swinging the sub-frame upwardly and releasably holding it in upwardly swung position.

'2. Theconstruction 'de-fined'in claim 'l,.in'- combination with means operatively connected to said foot-operated means for automatically unclutchi-ng 'the driving connections between said axleand'said planting -wheelwhen thesub-irame is sw'ung'upwardly and for automatically-clutching thesain'e wlien' the sub irame is'sw-ung 'downwardly to lower the planting wheel and'lplow'to eper-salve position.

3.111 "a transplanting machine, a transverse front axle, a main frame supported on said axle and comprising side rails connected by a'transv erse rear rail and transverse front tie rod, supporting-and driving wheels on the ends of said 8 stationsdisposed in" slde by siderelation on sa-id main :iramebehind thelplanting wheel, an'dtfootoperated -ineans operable from either opera-tons station forrswinging the sub-framenpwardlyand re'leasably a holding it Y iniipwardly swung position.

4. The constru ction defi'ned in claim -3, wherein said Ifootoperated :means "comprises a transverse rok shaft tjournal'ledon *ea'ch side-of the main rrameja bell crankl'ever fixed on each roek shaft and l'h'air'ing v'a forwardl-y projecting arm provided at'its .free end with a =ro'ller bearing'on theiunder side or the adjacent iside -mem-ber of the subframe, a'transverse rock shaft journalled on the sub fram'e rearwardlyofsaid first-named rock shafts; a depending-arm on each end "of the lastrrain'ed'i ock shaft nperatively connected to the other am oithe'bellcrank lever at each side of the main-frame;:a rearwardlyextending foot lever fixed to each first-maimed rock shaft and each having :a pivoted pedal, and means controlled by each pedal for latching the associated -oot lever-in depressed {position to hold :thesub-frame in "upwardly swungiposition.

5. The iconstruction'wdefined in claim .1, wherein the means operatively connecting the .for-ward end'of the sub-frame'withrthe bar comprises arms rigid with'and projecting :for-ward-lyf-rom theisides of'the sub-frame andhaving lateral iorward ends, and =forks :rigid *with and -.projecting rear'war'dly from the end portions of said bar, the lateral ends of said arms engaging between the .membars of said forks.

6. The construction d'efinedlin claim l wherein said foot-operated means comprisesbell crank levers mounted on eachside of the .main frame and haying corresponding arms thereof equipped with rollers Ibearingagainst the under s'idesdfthe .respective sides -of the sub-frame, a rearwar'dly extending foot leverfor operating each bll crank lever, an -operating connection between sai'd'be'll crank levers whereby both of the latter may b'e operated-by either footlever; each footllever havingiaspivotedpedal, andmeans operated by either rpedal :forreleasably'Llatching the lioot leversin depressed positions with the sub-frame in upwa'rdly swung position.

"7. The construction -definedin claim 1, wherein said foot-operated means comprises 'bell crank :levers :mounted'on each side of the mainframe andihaving' corresponding arms-thereof equipped with rollers bearing against the .under .side 6f the respective sides of the sub-frame, a rearwvardly extending -foot leverdor operating each Joell crank lever, 'an operating connection .betwee'n'said bell crank levers whereby both .o'f the'latter maybe operated by either foot levr, @each footdever havinga pivoted-pedal; and means (operated by either (pedal vfor :releasably latching the foot levers in depressed positions with the {front Castor wheels Supporting the rear of sub-frameiin upwardlyrswungposition,and yieldsai'd main frame, a transverse bar disposedand journalled for rocking movement on said rod, a ground leveling plow supported by said bar, a sub-frame disposed within said main frame and able-means for'absorbingvshock incident to lower- --ing'-'of'the sub-"frame.

8. "The construction defined in'claim .1, wherein said v. Ifoot-operated means comprises bell crank "journallcd near its forward end on said'front'axle 5 i-l rsxm t dn each i 'of bhe.main: frame for vertical swinging movement, a planting wheel .journalled on atransverse axis within said subrrame rearwardly of said axle, a clutch-controlled driving connection between said front axle and randhavingcorresponding arms thereof equipped "with rollers bea'ring' against the under side of the 'irespective sides of the sub-framau-a rearwardly etxending'foot leverifor operating each bellorank lever; an ope'ra'ting connection :between :said 'sbell 'cra'nk levers whereby zboth of the latter may bebperalted by either ffoot lever, cea'ch footilever having a pivoted "pedal, and means operated :by either pedal' for rleasably latching the fooitlcvers th'e plow to an inoperative position, operators in depressed=-positionswlth the sub-frame inup- 10 wardly swung position, a clutch member slidable REFERENCES CITED on said axle and movable to one position to The following references are of record in the establish driving connection between the axle file of patent:

and the planting wheel and in the opposite direction to render said driving connection inopera- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tive, and an operating connection between said clutch member and one of said bell crank levers g gz gfii whereby said driving connection is rendered in- 1 753017 Oppenheim 1930 memfive when the sub-frame is swung upwardly 1:802:273 Richards et ai. Apr. '21 1931 and whereby the same is rendered operative when 10 2 348 787 the sub-frame is allowed to swing downwardly.

CLAUDE L. CARELOCK.

Cordes May 16, 1944 

